Edwaard Liang and I crossed paths in 2011, it was my first year with the second company of the Tulsa Ballet. He was choreographing his first full-length ballet of Romeo and Juliet and I was fortunate enough to understudy the role of Juliet and spend a lot of rehearsal time with him. I slowly began to understand Edwaard’s process, the way he interacted with us dancers, and how he moved through his own creative and at times frustrating moments that many of us dancers, choreographers, and directors experience. Since 2013 Edwaard has experienced all three endeavors of a dancers life within the career of ballet. Edwaard is one of the most transparent people I have ever met and worked with in the studio. He is aware of the energetic space dancers create and has become even more familiar with the choreographic and director’s space one learns to transition into after their dancing career has come to an end. It was a joy to work with Ed again after all these years here at Ballet West in Salt Lake City, Utah. Sitting down and sharing this enduring conversation and psychoanalyzing the life of a dancer, was a relieving moment for me. Understanding that we are all moving through different phases of our life at whatever point we are within our careers, whether we are just becoming professional ballet dancers, dabbling with choreography, creating your first full-length, or sitting at the front of the room and running a non-profit organization. Edwaard expresses how he is a living example of synchronicity and how he moves from an energetic place that is guided from spirituality and how at times a choreographer experiences suffering moments when it comes to the reviews and how one must remain resilient. His process of choreographing and how important it is to be in the present with the dancer that is in front of you. Seeing them for who they are, their capabilities, and how to build a piece from there. The presence of a Life Coach and the benefits one can offer when checking in with our Ego or moving through a difficult phase that may be impacting our life. How the hardest two years he ever stepped into was when he became the director of Ballet Met and how he has evolved within this new role of a dancers life. Ed speaks of how important connection is with every individual that is affiliated with the organization and how monthly work parties can really grow respect for one another and the strength of the company. Part 1 of this episode we will discuss the steps Ed took to make it into New York City Ballet and later transitioning into a choreographer. Part 2 we will discuss Ed remaining a choreographer while also stepping into the role of Artistic Director of Ballet Met. I hope the Part 1 and 2 episodes of the Edwaard Liang podcast offer you some wisdom.